Sierra: Latin with a Twist

On April 25th, internationally renowned conductor Leonard Slatkin leads the St. Louis Symphony in the orchestra’s first performances of Roberto Sierra’s popular work Fandangos.

Bret Dorhout, the orchestra’s Vice President for Artistic Administration, comments about the upcoming series. “We had asked Leonard for suggestions for repertoire, and he suggested Fandangos…Leonard, of course, has a special relationship with the St. Louis Symphony, but we also like to support conductors who promote works by living composers. We were particularly interested in Fandangos, because Sierra is a talented composer whose music has never been performed by the St. Louis Symphony.”

Having conducted Fandangos previously, Leonard Slatkin shares some personal insight into the work. “I have had the pleasure of not only premiering Fandangos, but also conducting it with several orchestras worldwide. As with many of Roberto’s pieces, this one is Latin-inspired but with a twist — it is essentially a fantasy on the harpsichord work of the same name by Padre Antonio Soler. The colorful touches brought to this orchestration are a treat to sort out. Whether directly quoting the original or creating the special sonic world he inhabits, Roberto’s piece never fails to make a strong impression on both [the] orchestra and audience.” Subsequent performances take place on April 26th and April 27th.